2026 -- H 7155

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LC003584

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE

GOVERNMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Place, and Hopkins

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2026

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-6 of the General Laws entitled "Departments of State

Government" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-6-16. Executive branch testimony to the general assembly; certification required.

     (a) Definitions. As used in this section:

     (1) “Executive agency” means any department, agency, board, commission, office, or

authority within the executive branch of state government, including any subdivision thereof.

     (2) “Testimony” means any oral or written statement, presentation, data submission, report,

or other informational material provided to the general assembly or any committee, commission,

or member thereof, in connection with legislative proceedings or oversight.

     (3) “Official executive branch testimony” means testimony that has been authorized and

certified in accordance with this section.

     (b) Certification required. No testimony shall be deemed official executive branch

testimony unless it is accompanied by a written certification executed by:

     (1) The head of the executive agency providing the testimony; and

     (2) The governor or the governor’s designee.

     (c) Contents of certification. The certification required by subsection (b) of this section

shall state that:

     (1) The testimony has been reviewed and authorized for submission on behalf of the

executive branch;

     (2) The factual statements and data contained therein are, to the best of the certifying

officials’ knowledge and belief after reasonable inquiry, accurate and complete as of the time

provided; and

     (3) The testimony does not knowingly omit material facts necessary to prevent the

information presented from being misleading.

     (d) Scope. The certification required by this section shall apply only to factual

representations and data and shall not be construed to require certification of policy judgments,

opinions, recommendations, or projections.

     (e) Form and filing of certification. The certification shall be submitted in writing and shall

be maintained as part of the official legislative record for the proceeding to which the testimony

relates.

     (f) Effect of noncompliance. Testimony not certified in accordance with this section shall

not be considered official executive branch testimony and shall not be relied upon by the general

assembly or any committee thereof for legislative findings, fiscal analyses, or oversight

determinations.

     (g) Rules and regulations. The department of administration, in consultation with the office

of the governor, may promulgate rules and standardized certification forms to implement this

section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE

GOVERNMENT

***

     This act would provide that testimony submitted on behalf of state departments, agencies,

boards or commissions would not be considered official unless authorized by the governor.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003584

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